FROM

Michael McCarthy, Independent.co.uk
May 2010

A 10-year, 34 million pound study of the
problem (which killed 12,000 badgers) concluded in 2008 that culling simply
would not work as a method of control.

"This is a disappointment, of course, but not
just for thousands of innocent badgers," he said. "The irony is that it is a
tragedy for farmers too. The decision to cull cannot lead to any significant
long-term gain in the fight against bovine TB, even with the complete
extermination of our native badgers."

Court rules animals can be killed in Wales in bid to prevent spread of
bovine TB.

The culling of badgers to control TB in cattle, one of the British
countryside's most divisive issues, can go ahead in Wales, a judge ruled
yesterday.

While the idea of killing badgers to prevent the spread of bovine
tuberculosis has been abandoned in England in favour of vaccination, the Welsh
Assembly Government's plan to cull the animals was upheld by Mr Justice Lloyd
Jones, who rejected a legal challenge brought by animal welfare activists.

His decision was welcomed by Welsh politicians, farmers and vets, but
attacked by wildlife campaigners led by the Badger Trust, which said it would
consider an appeal.

The issue is hugely controversial, as TB is spreading extensively in cattle
in Britain, and there is compelling evidence that badgers constitute a reservoir
of the disease and can pass it on to farm livestock. However, a 10-year, £34m
study of the problem (which killed 12,000 badgers) concluded in 2008 that
culling simply would not work as a method of control. It was argued that not all
badgers would be caught in the cull, and that the ones which escaped would
wander the countryside spreading the disease even more.

Yet in a remarkable scientific spat, this conclusion was itself challenged by
the Government's then Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, who insisted
that culling would work and strongly recommended the introduction of a culling
programme. In the end, the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn took the decision
to abandon culling in England for a programme of TB vaccination – to the anger
of the National Farmers' Union.

But agriculture is now a devolved responsibility, and last year the Welsh
Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, decided to go down the culling route after
all. Her decision was subjected to a judicial review last month, brought about
by a challenge from the Badger Trust, but yesterday at the Swansea Civil Justice
Centre the judge upheld her position, and the cull is likely to go ahead now in
pilot areas in Pembrokeshire and other parts of south-west Wales.

Ms Jones had said that bovine TB was "out of control in Wales" and cost
taxpayers close to £24m in compensation to farmers in 2009. "We welcome the
court's decision," she said yesterday. "Bovine TB is one of the biggest problems
facing cattle farmers across Wales, and we have to tackle all sources of the
disease. We are dealing with an epidemic that has serious consequences for us
all and we must stamp it out. Over the past three years, with advice from
experts, we have put in place a comprehensive programme to eradicate TB, and
this includes more testing of cattle, identifying and getting rid of the disease
in cattle at an earlier stage, and improving on farm practices."

The Badger Trust was "disappointed", said the chairman David Williams. But he
added: "Important issues emerged in these proceedings, which ought to give the
minister serious cause for thought before proceeding with any cull. We hope that
compassion and sense will prevail in light of the latest evidence. Meanwhile, we
will carefully consider an appeal."

Brian May, lead guitarist of Queen, was among a group of protesters who
backed the animal charity's opposition and spoke out against the plan, calling
it "a tragic wrong turn".

"This is a disappointment, of course, but not just for thousands of innocent
badgers," he said. "The irony is that it is a tragedy for farmers too. The
decision to cull cannot lead to any significant long-term gain in the fight
against bovine TB, even with the complete extermination of our native badgers."

He added: "I believe all this will be seen in a few years time for what it is
... a tragic wrong turn which did nothing to solve the problem of TB in cattle.
For the sake of all involved, we will not be giving up the fight. We are taking
advice on appealing at a higher level."

Leading vets, however, supported the decision. "This is a highly emotive
issue and we understand that many people will be disappointed, but it is
essential that a wide range of measures are employed and we believe that should
include a targeted cull of badgers," said Professor Bill Reilly, President of
the British Veterinary Association.

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